Well, it ended up being rainy despite the ‘slim’ 30% chance of rain. I drove around a bit and up shaker mountain road (i think), and saw some beautiful old houses and farms with old stone walls and ponds. The changing leaves were striking in the mist. I spoke with a woman, Judy Kessler, who invited me to take a hike on her property. She was a very friendly person, walking two large and inquisitive poodles who pulled her along into the ditch while we talked. I also drove by one of the mobile home parks, and found them very well-kept and in a nice setting- not at all the poor neighborhood I had in mind during our discussions. The only downside of the trip ended up being that my car’s check engine light came on again… after I just got it checked out. I guess I’m back to Rutland next weekend.

Is there something going on in Starksboro this evening? I have written down “dessert and lecture by Frank Brian.” I know it’s the Weybridge Feast tonight, too – but wondered what the timeframe was and if anyone was planning on going?

I love all the ideas coming forward about how to give this project to the town, and I can’t wait to get started.  The idea of just finding people to interview is daunting, to say the least, and as before next Tuesday gets here I’d like to at least put feet on the ground in Starksboro.  I know Chester has been in and out of the Town Clerk’s office; I’d love to poke my head in and just drive around town a bit.  Does anyone want to head up Sunday?  We can carpool in the car I have yet to find!

Here are some links to several relevant documents – the Starksboro Town Plan, their Zoning Bylaws, a list of thematic options derived from the Town Plan, and a list of next steps / survey results that was shared at Starksboro Days:

Thematic Topics from Town Plan

Next Steps from Starksboro Days

Starksboro Town Plan – http://www.starksboro.org/Files/Starksboro_Town_Plan_Full.pdf

Starksboro Zoning Bylaws – http://www.starksboro.org/pdf_documents/Zoning/starksboro.pdf

While I’m really enjoying the feedback on Barbara Ganley’s digital workshop, I’d also like to offer an alternate prompt for this week, following up on last Thursday’s discussion.  Here it comes.

What are your reflections about how we can make our projects in this course most collaborative and most meaningful for Starksboro residents?  To frame this another way, how can we make it most likely that folks in Starksboro will feel a sense of ownership in our work, rather than just admiring the final projects as impressive work by Middlebury students?